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Now that March has finally arrived, we’re officially in the “T-minus” phase for The Hunger Games movie adaptation, hitting theaters on March 23.

In anticipation, I’ve been perusing several pieces of fine literature, to wit: The Hunger Games: The Official Illustrated Movie Companion (Scholastic, February), Stars in the Arena: Meet the Hotties of The Hunger Games (Simon Pulse, February), and The Hunger Games Tribute Guide (Scholastic, February).

The Official Illustrated Movie Companion is fairly comprehensive, with bios, behind-the-scenes photos, and making-of trivia. We hear from author Suzanne Collins herself, the director, the producer, all the cast members, set designers, costume designers… it’s a big love-fest. There are also lots of huge, shiny pictures of prettiness. The takeaway: the people in the Capitol are going to be fun to look at. And keep an eye out for Wes Bentley’s beard. You’ll know it when you see it.

Speaking of things that are fun to look at, in Stars in the Arena: Meet the Hotties of The Hunger Games, we discover the answers to such questions as “Could Jennifer Lawrence survive in the wild like Katniss?”, “Is Josh Hutcherson as romantic as Peeta?”, and “Is Liam [Hemsworth] in love with Jen in real life?” …Wait, is he?

Sadly, they’re just friends, but I was totally whipped into a frenzy of fandom right there.

There’s obviously a conflation of the actors and their characters in all of these books, but it reaches a whole new level in the Tribute Guide, which begins with a sinister “Citizens of Panem, are you ready?” Now we’re the audience both in the real world and in the story? Not sure how I feel about that. The rest of the meta-exercise is essentially a program for viewers watching the book’s reality TV show, The Hunger Games.

Ooh, when are they going to make the TV show?

Yup, it’s definitely T-minus time.

1. More from Neil Gaiman (aka God) – here’s his take on The Simpsons, courtesy of  Spinoff Online.

http://spinoff.comicbookresources.com/2011/11/19/neil-gaiman-on-his-simpsons-appearance-teen-lit-and-trolls/

2. Breaking Dawn is nearly breaking box office records, so the academics are sitting up and taking (more) notice of the phenomenon.  Check out the following light-hearted approach from GoodReads which made me wonder: 1) Does anyone else see the similarity between US political preferences and Twilight readers?  And 2) Should Barack Obama be afraid … very afraid?

http://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/321-do-you-live-in-the-twilight-belt-infographic

3. Readers Feast new location unveiled.  Just in from The Age, news to delight  Melburnians and all those who mourned the closing of this iconic Melbourne literary landmark.  It’s baaack .. and in time for Christmas!

http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/books/a-new-feast-for-lovers-of-books-20111117-1nl29.html

4. Fancy a celebration of home grown crime? The Sisters in Crime 18th Annual Scarlet Stiletto awards for short stories (including a prize for Young Writers) is happening in bloodcurdling style this  Friday.  Follow this link to find out when and where:

http://www.sistersincrime.org.au/content/18th-annual-scarlet-stiletto-awards

5. UK author Michael Morpurgo talks about his book War Horse,  about one horse’s experiences of World War I, which became a sell-out play and is soon to be a movie by Steven Spielberg. There’ wasn’t a dry eye in the house when I saw the trailer last week – I predict this’ll be a big hit next year when it arrives in cinemas here.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/audio/2011/nov/11/war-horse-michael-morpurgo-podcast